Moving from ethical awareness to deeper understanding and practice: kindergarten teachers’ experience with developing caring dispositions in children

Abstract

The goal of this research is to seek information from the Cleveland (Ohio) and Buffalo (New York) area kindergarten teachers about their experience in development of caring dispositions in children. Two hundred questionnaires were sent, one hundred to each city. There was a low response rate of less than 10% from both cities. A qualitative method of data analysis based on descriptive and thematic approach was applied. The results showed how the teachers model and practise caring. This study gives examples of the programmes and many books these teachers are using for teaching caring. It also provides advice to new teachers on how to model, practise and teach caring.

Keywords:

• development of a caring disposition in young children